Process For Making Water Receptacles in General

ABSTRACT

This is a new process for constructing swimming pools, fountains and artificial ponds in general, comprising the following phases: excavation of the receptacle, preparation of the foundation (S) by laying a layer of sand (S) on the bottom (T 1 ) of the excavation (T), laying of one or more sheets of non-woven fabric (TS) on the internal surface of the excavation (T) and on the foundation layer (S), laying of the waterproofing layer (I) on top of said sheet of non-woven fabric (TS), laying of modular elements for stabilizing the lining, application of the equipment necessary for the correct functioning of said basin, swimming pool, etc., lining (R) of the internal walls of the receptacle and/or of the bottom of the receptacle and/or of the edge (B) of the receptacle, with smoothed natural stones (R 1 ) laid on top of said waterproofing layer (I) and application of special binding resin (C) on said lining (R).

The present patent concerns swimming pools, fountains, basins, etc., andin particular it concerns a process for constructing swimming pools,fountains and artificial ponds in general, also for bathing, making useof natural elements.

Basins, fountains and artificial ponds in general for ornamental use areknown.

Items of this type are made with a lining made of stones, partly sunk inconcrete or simply placed together and stacked dry, that is without anybinder.

Said basins may also be used for raising aquatic species, such as plantsor fish.

In this case, said basins are also provided with equipment such asfilters, pumps and everything needed for cleaning, oxygenating andrecirculating the water and all the operations necessary for thesurvival of the guest species.

Swimming pools for bathing are known, both sunk into the ground and not,the construction of which is extremely complex and expensive.

Above all, the terrain must be excavated and subsequent operationscarried out to level the bottom and retain the walls.

The side walls and the bottom of the swimming pool are usually made ofreinforced concrete which is treated with water-resistant products andlined with ceramic elements.

Walls are also known that are made of steel panels, the surface of whichis suitably treated with resins and paints, on the exposed part, andwith waterproofing products on the internal surface in contact with theground.

The known swimming pools typically have a regular shape, with ahorizontal or gradually sloping bottom and vertical side walls.

To complete the swimming pools, filters are also installed, inlets andoutlets, overflows, collection channels, pumps and all the otherequipment necessary for the correct function and use of the swimmingpool.

In particular, for the known swimming pools for bathing, it isfundamental to install special equipment for filtering and sanitizingthe water, for removing and eliminating impurities and pathogenicfactors which could cause possible infections.

However, the known receptacles made of reinforced concrete and linedwith tiles need frequent and expensive maintenance and repair works.

Cracks often appear on the surface of the tiles, due mainly to theuneven settling of the bottom with consequent serious possibilities oftheir becoming detached, while the waterproofing paint covering must betouched up frequently.

Unlike the basins and artificial ponds described previously, sunkenswimming pools in reinforced concrete have a great impact on theenvironment, being an aesthetically non natural element and thereforedifficult to insert.

To overcome the above inconvenient aspects, a new type of process hasbeen studied and constructed for making swimming pools, basins,fountains and artificial ponds in general.

The main task of the present invention is to construct a swimming pool,basin, fountain, etc., even for bathing, of any shape and size, usingnatural materials.

Another important aim of the present invention is to construct itemsthat are aesthetically pleasing and that can be perfectly integrated inany context or environment, even a natural one, also using a new flatbase element.

Another aim of the present invention is to reduce and facilitatemaintenance and cleaning operations.

Another aim of the present invention is to reduce maintenance andrunning costs.

These and other aims, direct and complementary, are achieved by the newprocess for realizing swimming pools, basins, fountains and artificialponds in general, using natural elements.

The process consists substantially of a first excavation phase, carriedout using known techniques, with the shapes required by the aestheticrequirements.

The next phase contemplates the preparation of the foundation, by layinga layer of sand, clay or other suitable material to level the bottom andprevent the presence of elements which could damage the layers above.

After making the foundation layer, one or more sheets of non-wovenfabric are laid on the whole internal surface of the excavation, on topof which the waterproofing layer is then applied.

Said waterproofing layer is constructed with sheets of waterproofpolymer material such as PVC or another material with similarcharacteristics and efficacy.

The subsequent phases consist of operations to line the walls and thebottom of the receptacle and of applying the necessary and adequateequipment for its correct functioning, such as inlets and outlets,filters, etc.

For the construction of the lining of the internal walls and of thebottom of the receptacle, the new process contemplates the use of tilesor preferably of elements of natural material, such as river stones,pebbles and rocks of various dimensions.

Said stones preferably have a rounded and smoothed shape, that iswithout sharp corners, for obvious reasons of safety, comfort andappearance.

For this purpose it is preferable to use river stones and pebbles,already naturally rounded and smoothed by the erosive action of water.

The process preferably comprises the positioning of a surface made up offlat modular elements, preferably deformable to suit the progress of thewalls and of the bottom of the swimming pool. These flat modularelements are provided with folding lines and with supporting elements orpegs and a block of coating pebbles or stones.

Then said stones are positioned on or inside said flat modular elementsplaced on top of said waterproofing layers, and a special resin isapplied, before and after laying the stones, to fix the stones firmly inthe desired position.

Said stones are distributed in such a way as to cover the entireinternal surface of the receptacle.

Said binding resin is homogeneously distributed both in the interstitialspaces in the layer of covering stones, that is between one stone andanother, and on the free surface of said stones.

In this way all the stones are covered completely, so that the coveringobtained is stable and totally waterproof.

These stones or pebbles of various sizes are mixed in a mixer along withthe resin, still in a fluid state, so that all the surfaces of eachpebble or stone are wet with said resin. This mixture of said pebblesand/or stones treated with resin is spread on said waterproof layer oron said flat modular elements.

Alternatively, said binding resin may be distributed only in theinterstitial spaces in the covering layer, so as to bind said stoneseffectively, but leaving their free upper surface uncovered.

For the construction of profiles or counter-profiles with a particularshape, with reduced corners or bending radii, the present inventioncontemplates the use of polystyrene profiles on which said waterproofinglayer and said covering stones are applied.

Thanks to said counter-profiles it is therefore possible to constructwith greater ease every type of profile of the walls and of the bottomof the receptacle.

The use of smoothed natural stone for lining the receptacle presentsnumerous advantages.

First of all the use of this type of material allows excellent resultsto be obtained even in lining receptacles with an extremely irregularshape, where, on the contrary, the use of the known tiles would requirean accurate and complex work of shaping the tiles.

The extreme variety in the shape and dimensions of the stones used infact allows extremely original results to be obtained.

The use of natural materials, without the need to use iron, concrete,etc., facilitates even the visual integration of the manufactured itemin the surrounding natural environment.

Moreover, natural stone has a high aesthetic value, making this materialsuitable also for the construction of ornamental fountains or artificialponds.

Unlike other materials commonly used, natural stones accumulate heat andhelp raise the water temperature.

The lining of smoothed natural stones is therefore extremely comfortablefor bathers and allows the creation of a natural environment that doesnot require draining and covering in winter.

In this way the running, maintenance and water heating expenses areconsiderably reduced.

Said stones may also be used to cover the edge of the receptacle, wherethe overflows are usually located, as well as the perimeter channels andthe equipment for collecting, filtering and recirculating the water.

Said stones are suitably laid above said overflows and said perimeterchannels and the binding resin is distributed in such a way as not tosaturate the interstitial spaces between the stones, thus leavingchannels for the draining water to pass through.

The stones therefore create a waterproof draining layer through whichthe water leaves the receptacle and is collected beyond the overflows,in the perimeter channels.

Said overflows and said channels are therefore concealed from view andthe aesthetic value of the manufactured item is considerably improved.

Alternatively, the present invention contemplates the use of artificialstones, reproducing natural and non natural elements, such as stoneslabs, steps, etc.

Process for the construction of basins, swimming pools, fountains andartificial ponds in general, comprising the possible laying on thebottom of the excavation of at least one layer of sand, clay or othersuitable material, laying of one or more sheets of non-woven fabric onthe internal surface of the excavation and on the foundation layer,application of the waterproofing layer on top of said sheet of non-wovenfabric, application of filters, ducts, inlets and outlets, collectingchannels and all the equipment necessary for the correct functioning ofsaid basin, swimming pool, etc., lining of the internal walls of thereceptacle with stones laid on top of said waterproofing layer andapplication of a special binding resin on said lining stones beforelaying or immediately after laying. Also contemplated is the possibleformation of a particular support surface for the stones, composed of aseries of flat modular elements, preferably flexible, provided withribbing, grooves, pegs or ridges for containing and supporting saidlining stones.

The characteristics of the new process for the construction of basins,swimming pools, fountains and artificial ponds in general will be betterclarified by the following description with reference to the drawings,enclosed as an example without limitation.

FIG. 1 shows a section of the receptacle, represented in a simplifiedway, without going into detail about the drainage equipment, thefilters, the pumps, etc.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1, where the sequence of layers that makeup the manufactured item can be seen.

FIG. 2 a shows an alternative solution for laying the binding resin (C).

FIG. 2 b shows a detail of the overflow and of the perimeter channel (F)covered by the stones (R1) of the lining (R).

FIG. 3 shows in detail a part of the lining obtained by laying thestones (R1) of the lining (R) on modular elements (M).

The excavation (T) is carried out according to the known techniques,with the methods required by constructive necessities.

Said excavation (T) may have any shape and depth, as dictated by theclient.

To make even the bottom (T1) of the excavation (T), a foundation layer(S) is prepared, by laying a layer of sand, clay or other suitablematerial to level the bottom of the excavation (T).

Said foundation layer (S) is covered with a sheet (TS) of non wovenfabric, on which the waterproofing layer (I) is laid.

Said waterproofing layer (I) is constructed with sheets of polymermaterial such as PVC, or another waterproof material with similarcharacteristics.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is also preferable to contemplate the laying of asupport surface for the stones (R1) of the lining (R).

Said surface is made up of a plurality of modular elements (M) made ofpreferable deformable material, suited to follow the profile of theexcavation (T), and where said modular elements (M) are positioned ontop of said waterproofing layer (I).

Each of said modular elements (M) is preferably subdivided, by means ofone or more folding lines (M3), into concave sections (M1) inside whichare laid the stones (R1) of the lining (R).

To guarantee a more stable positioning of the stones (R1), said modularelements (M) comprise a plurality of protruding elements or pegs (M2) toblock the stones (R1).

The final phases consist of the operations of lining the walls of thereceptacle and applying the necessary special equipment for correctfunctioning, such as inlets and outlets, filters, etc.

For the construction of the lining (R) of the internal walls and of thebottom of the receptacle, the new process contemplates the use ofnatural material, such as river stones (R1), pebbles and rocks ofvarious sizes and shapes, preferably rounded and smoothed, that iswithout sharp corners.

The process contemplates the positioning of said stones (R1) inside thereceptacle, on top of said waterproofing layer (I), or said elements(M), to cover the entire surface of the receptacle.

Said lining layer (R) is made stable by applying special binding resin(C), suited to bind the stones (R1) in the desired position. Thistreatment of covering the stones may be carried out after laying thestones or pebbles or before laying them by mixing pebbles and/or stonesof a suitable size in a mixer with resin, still in a fluid state.

Said binding resin (C) may be homogeneously distributed on the wholelining, to cover all the stones (R1) completely, as shown in FIG. 2.

Alternatively, said binding resin (C) may be distributed as shown inFIG. 2 a, that is filling the interstitial spaces in the lining layer(R), but leaving the free surface of the stones (R1) uncovered.

Said smoothed natural stones (R1) may also be used to cover the edge (B)of the receptacle, where the overflows are usually located, as well asthe perimeter channels (F) and the equipment for collecting, filteringand recirculating the water.

Said natural stones (R1) may be laid distributing the binding resin (C)in such a way as not to saturate the interstitial spaces between thestones (R1), thus creating a waterproof draining layer through which thewater leaves the receptacle and is collected beyond the overflows, inthe perimeter channels (F). (FIG. 2 b)

Therefore, with reference to the above description and to the encloseddrawings, the following claims are made.

1. Process for constructing basins, swimming pools, fountains and artificial ponds in general, characterized in that it comprises the following phases: laying of one or more sheets of non-woven fabric (TS) on the internal surface (T1) of the excavation (T) and/or on the foundation layer (S); laying of the waterproofing layer (I) on top of said sheet of non-woven fabric (TS); application of filters, ducts, inlets and outlets, collecting channels and all the equipment necessary for the correct functioning of said basin, swimming pool; lining (R) of the internal walls of the receptacle and/or of the bottom of the receptacle with stones (R1) laid on top of said waterproofing layer (I) and where said stones (R1) are wholly or partly covered with binding resin (C).
 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a support surface composed of a series of flat modular elements (M) provided with ridges and/or pegs (M2) and/or folds (M3) for laying said covering stones (R1).
 3. Process according to claims 1, 2, characterized in that said stones (R1) and/or pebbles are mixed with said binding resin (C) before being laid, preferably by treatment in a mixer.
 4. Process, according to claims 1, 2 3 characterized in that said binding resin (C) is distributed homogeneously in the interstitial spaces in the covering layer (R).
 5. Process according to claims 1, 2 3 characterized in that said binding resin (C) is distributed homogeneously both in the interstitial spaces in the covering layer (R), and on the surface of said stones (R1), to cover and waterproof said lining (R) completely.
 6. Process according to previous claims, characterized in that said stones (R1) are also laid above the overflows and perimeter channels (F) for collecting the water, creating a waterproof draining layer where the binding resin (C) is distributed in such a way as not to saturate the interstitial spaces between the stones.
 7. Process according to previous claims, characterized in that said stones (R1) are smoothed natural stones, such as river pebbles.
 8. Process according to previous claims, characterized in that said stones (R1) are artificial.
 9. Process according to previous claims, characterized in that it comprises the application of polystyrene profiles, positioned below said waterproofing layer (I) and below said covering layer (R), for the construction of profiles with a complex shape. 